[pescetom]

c) after a weak two in spades

---

How do you fare now?

[WasWinM]

The admonishment is the hand with the shortness should act, but there's also the admonishment that you can get your ass handed to you at the 3-level without sufficient values. I pass, which actually may work out better as I suspect it would go: 2S-P-P-3C, P-3S-P-3N, P-4C-P-4D, P-4H-P-4S, 4NT, yada yada 6C.

[mike777]

 WasWinM, on 2026-August-22, 15:26, said:

The admonishment is the hand with the shortness should act, but there's also the admonishment that you can get your ass handed to you at the 3-level without sufficient values. I pass, which actually may work out better as I suspect it would go: 2S-P-P-3C, P-3S-P-3N, P-4C-P-4D, P-4H-P-4S, 4NT, yada yada 6C.

Tough one

I think if you decide to pull 3NT at MP then just blast to 6C.

[paulg]

I can't see us ever going beyond 3NT with any confidence and would not be surprised to see some defending 2♠ on the traveller.

[pescetom]

 WasWinM, on 2026-August-22, 15:26, said:

The admonishment is the hand with the shortness should act, but there's also the admonishment that you can get your ass handed to you at the 3-level without sufficient values. I pass, which actually may work out better as I suspect it would go: 2S-P-P-3C, P-3S-P-3N, P-4C-P-4D, P-4H-P-4S, 4NT, yada yada 6C.

What exactly are 3S and 3NT for you in this sequence?
I prefer it as stopper ask and show, with 4C being a GF raise of clubs, but I suspect I may be in a minority here.

[apollo1201]

The best way to reach 6C is a 3C balance by E but W will never move towards slam facing a hand that could be much weaker (not to mention the unexpected sg H, opps have 9 hearts between them). With silent opps it is easier to reach.

I think as E I would not like to pass with 15 HCP but would balance with 2NT, showing more or less this strength (Axx is a nice stopper that you can hold on repeated S leads) but a more regular shape (sorry I had a small D mixed with the H9). Slightly worried that partner might transfer me to H, but passing is probably losing bridge in the long run.. and W happily adds the 3rd with Kx stopper help.

Now if they lead H I will need the C finesse.

[pescetom]

My partner started with X in West: is that considered normal or excessive by the majority here? I think I would pass, hopefully in tempo.

Say West does double, how do things proceed now for more expert players playing a disciplined Lebensohl approach here? 2NT forcing 3♣ and then 3NT to show game force without hearts but "with" a stopper in spades (where a direct 3NT denies both hearts and stopper)?

[pescetom]

This partnership is only two weeks old and partner was already new to Rubensohl against interference over 1NT, being used to an Italian scheme instead. So I didn't expect him to play a Rubensohl-like scheme of transfers here, but I was worried that if I bid 2NT he might respond 3♣, whatever he thought that meant (clubs, transfer completion, generic GF, Stayman, Leb). Of course the average club player in my place would be happy to alert and explain that as "obliged by my Lebensohl", and the average club TD would see nothing wrong Luckily he raised 2NT to 3NT and we were out of the bidding and ethical woods, although not in the ideal contract.

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2026-August-23, 08:55, said:

My partner started with X in West: is that considered normal or excessive by the majority here? I think I would pass, hopefully in tempo.

Say West does double, how do things proceed now for more expert players playing a disciplined Lebensohl approach here? 2NT forcing 3♣ and then 3NT to show game force without hearts but "with" a stopper in spades (where a direct 3NT denies both hearts and stopper)?

Wrong shape for X. Pass in tempo of course, you were thinking about this when you picked up you hand.

Can't answer next question, neither an expert or any agreements here.

[mycroft]

PaulG has taken the words out of my mouth pretty much verbatim. (2♠-p-p-3♣; p-3♠-p-3NT is my expectation). I can see a push (probably 4♣ instead of 3♠, especially at IMPs where 5♣ is only -1 or -2) because max pass, but again, some of that max pass has already been taken account of by balancer (who this time *also* has "extras").

As always, it *strongly* depends on your defensive structure to preempts. I expect the same "action is obvious" and "action is ludicrous" discussions we have had numerous times before over West's hand (and yes, already see it beginning) from those who won't get preempted (and act on 12 or 13 as a result) and those who are willing to get preempted because +100 is still better than -50 or more in a no-play game (or +170 in a cold one that they're afraid to bid). As I am in the latter camp...

Interestingly, both sides can get burned by their style on this hand. For me, both sides have extras, but no real room to show it without abandoning 3NT. For the "immediate action" people, well, 43 AK7 K53 KJ976 or Q3 KQ7 K53 KJ876. (and sure, tell me those aren't action. I don't play this style, I could easily be undercutting it). Yeah, you can resolve it to avoid the slam, but you'll still lose to all the 3NTers.

Preempts Work™.

[paulg]

pescetom, on 2026-August-23, 08:55, said:

My partner started with X in West: is that considered normal or excessive by the majority here? I think I would pass, hopefully in tempo.

It is too much for me and I think I am aggressive. When I don't have four cards in the other major for a takeout double I need compensating values and I've yet to spot any here. I have no intermediates, my points are not in my long suit, and the chances of playing in a 4-3 red suit fit seem very high.

pescetom, on 2026-August-23, 08:55, said:

Say West does double, how do things proceed now for more expert players playing a disciplined Lebensohl approach here? 2NT forcing 3♣ and then 3NT to show game force without hearts but "with" a stopper in spades (where a direct 3NT denies both hearts and stopper)?

Practically speaking I'd probably show a stopper without hearts and end in 3NT. The problem if I continue with 4♣ is that we can easily miss out best minor suit fit. Some hands are difficult.

[pescetom]

mycroft, on 2026-August-23, 11:09, said:

PaulG has taken the words out of my mouth pretty much verbatim. (2♠-p-p-3♣; p-3♠-p-3NT is my expectation). I can see a push (probably 4♣ instead of 3♠, especially at IMPs where 5♣ is only -1 or -2) because max pass, but again, some of that max pass has already been taken account of by balancer (who this time *also* has "extras").

Thanks for this and the rest... but I still have a question of how do you nuance the 3♠ cue in that auction (stopper asks and other such demode' agreements) and how should partner bid over it?

[pescetom]

paulg, on 2026-August-23, 11:32, said:

It is too much for me and I think I am aggressive. When I don't have four cards in the other major for a takeout double I need compensating values and I've yet to spot any here. I have no intermediates, my points are not in my long suit, and the chances of playing in a 4-3 red suit fit seem very high.

My feeling too, FWIW.

paulg, on 2026-August-23, 11:32, said:

Practically speaking I'd probably show a stopper without hearts and end in 3NT.

Same logic as I ventured, thanks. I'm comfortable with the choice of showing stopper, my underlying doubt was that this might be "only" a UK style of how to play Lebensohl here (I learned it from an article by Marc Smith, Lebensohl writeups in general are reticent about game forcing and higher).